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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Today in Naval History
December 9
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1938 - A prototype shipboard radar, XAF, designed and built by the Naval Research Laboratory, is installed on USS New York (BB 34).
On This Day

1864

While operating on the Roanoke River at Rainbow Bluff, N.C., the side-wheel gunboat Otsego strikes two Confederate mines. The steam tugboat Bazely rushes to help Otsego, but she also hits a mine. Both vessels eventually sink. During this operation, the side-wheel gunboat Wyalusing provides fire cover while boats dragged for mines.

1938

A prototype shipboard radar, XAF, designed and built by the Naval Research Laboratory, is installed on USS New York (BB-34). Installation on U.S. Navy vessels begins in 1940 and proves fruitful in detecting the enemy in World War II.

1941

USS Swordfish (SS 193) makes initial U.S. submarine attack on Japanese ship, torpedoing a ship 150 miles west of Manila. Her claim of sinking, though, is not confirmed in enemy records.

1944

USS Charles F. Hughes (DD 428) and USS Madison (DD 425) bombard German coast artillery positions and troop concentrations along the Franco-Italian border.

2017

The Navy launches its latest branding campaign aimed at attracting a new generation of recruits during live national coverage of the Army-Navy football game. The launch also marks the debut of the Navy's new tagline, "Forged by the Sea."